Cellulosic container



Oct. 181938.' M.`C.MEYER 25133629 cELLULo-slc CONTAINER Filed April 22, 1957 Patented Oct.l 18, 1938 '2,133,629 cnuunosic comma Maximiliano. Meyer, Breekim'N. Y. Appuesaen April zz, 1937, sei-n1 Ne. 138,324

` RHSSU ED nac s -I 1940 s claims. (ci. zza-'4.5)

This invention relates to novel methods of mak- -ing cellulosic containers and the method of producing them.

The detailed objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

This invention resides substantially in the construction, combination, arrangement, relative location of parts,.steps and series of steps. al1 in accordance with the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a plan view of the structural element from which the peripheral walls of containers in accordance with this invention are constructed;

Fig.2 is an end edge elevational view thereof Fis. 3 is a side elevational view of a contain in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view thereof and Fig. 5 is a vertical, transversesectiona'l view 20 through the container.

The construction of containers from cellulosic derivatives such as cellulose acetate, celluloid, and the like vis at the present time -attaining It is noWl 25 a common practice to construct hat boxes, shoeV considerable commercial importance.

boxes, linen boxes, handkerchief boxes, glove boxes, cake boxes, and the like from materials of this nature. ,The common practice at the present time is to form the peripheral walls of a so shoe box for example from a continuous stripof material intov an open rectangle by cementing the free ends together after formation of the strip into that rectangular form. To the bottom edge of the peripheral wall thus formed is '35 cemented the bottemweu. 'rmsieaves the upper peripheral edge of the wall in what may be termed a raw or unfinished state. The material of which such boxes are constructed is rather thin of the ordertfor example of ve, ten, nfteen or 40 twenty thousandths of anv inch thick. It is obvious that the walls therefore do not have much inherent rigidity and that the free upper raw edge is unsightly and extremely vulnerable to mechanical damage. This edge. if it has any 45 sugnump'erfeeuem annemieke, nuages, 'ofthe seen ese been. However, uns-im been :ma

velopedduringthc'beadingoperationweahenthe materiaitotheextentthatltisevenmmmmiveeptibieto-njacisrroortcarins. Itmaybsstatod,

vpleasing appearance.

that the vgeneral object of this invention is to provide improvement in construction whereby a'iinished sightly edge is produced which imparts overall rigidity to the peripheral walls of the container and substantially eliminates the dan- 5 n ger of Afracture and tearing. In addition the peripheral wall strips constructed in accordance with this invention are better adapted to handling and manufacturing operations, facilitating more economical production.

In Figure 1 there is illustrated a portioniof a strip of Celluloid for example constructed in accordance with this invention. The width of thel strip I of course depends upon the depth of the container itis desired to produce. Cemented to l5 one face of the strip along one of its longer edges'is a rod or strand 2 of Celluloid of any desired'cross-section. As1 illustrated by way of example in Fig. 2. this strand 2 is of circular crosssection which from a manufacturing viewpoint is,

a desirable shape because of the ease in producing it. Cemented along the other long edge on the opposite face of the strip l is a similar strand l. These strands are cemented to the edges of the strips with any suitable solvent cement depending upon the particular nature of the material employed. In the case of Celluloid a suitable cement comprises a mixture in equal parts of acetone and methyl-celo-solv-acetate. Acetone, as is well known very rapidly attacks $0 materials made of cellulose derivatives, with a v tendency to oversoften it and in many cases to blush it. For this reason the acetone is preferably diluted with a more slowly acting solvent such as methyl-celo-solv-acetate., It is of course ss `well knowntothscskilledintheartthatmany other solvents are suitable, and that the particuiar solvents, mixtures, and proportions thereof will vary withfthe dinerent cellulose derivative used. I therefore refer ,only to the specific solvent mentioned above for purposes of illustration.v By means ofsuch solvents the strands 2 and 'I are quickly attached'to the edges of the strip. It is here noted that it-is not necessary ,e thatthcstrands and I beplaeed on opposite 4s faces of the strip,but it is a desirable practice because the finished container-presents a more To form a container of the element form having the shapeof container.

thecase the drawing,theform'wouldeonsistofaccn tralbodyotmoldofaliyntlliomatol'hlm Il mensions of the container. At the corners of the mold or form are provided heated members preferably cylindrical in cross section such as pipes, having an outside diameterequal to the desired diameter of the curvatm'e of the box at the corners. As noted for example, these heated elements may comprise brass pipes standing vertically at thecorners of the form and set in thereto so as to produce the shape, as will be apparent from Fig. 4, vat the corners.

These pipes are supplied with steam to keep them heated and the strip is bent around the form and pressure is applied at the corners Where the strip engages the heated members to shape them therearound, and give 'them a permanent set.

A feature of practical importance is illustrated at 8 in Fig. 3. Where the strand 2 'at the upper edge is on the inner face of the stripif the peripheral wall portion l during the heating and i forming operation is pressed closely under the strand a small lip will be formed as indicated at 6 in Fig. 3 at each of the corners. This provides a convenient way for tting the cover on the box which would be similarly constructed forming a snug t and snapping down over thle vupper peripheral edge of the main body of the container to hold the body tight.

The ends of the strips are overlapped as indicated in Fig. 5 and small lengths of the strands 2 and 3 are cut on as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the lapped joint forms as little bulk as possible. The overlapping edges are then cemented together by means of the solvent mentioned above to form an open rectangular peripheral wall clearly apparent vfrom the drawing. The bottom wall 4 .of the container is made from a cellulose derivative and in the case of the example selected would be made of.Cel1uloid. Its dimensions are such that its end edges are flush with the outer surfacewof the strand 3 which is cemented to the bottomv edge of the peripheral wall. The bottom wall 4 is cemented to the lower edge of the peripheral wall all around by the use of the solvent mentioned. It will be apparent that the presence of the strand 3 in addition to adding strength to the structure provides an increased area of. adhesion to the bottom wall. Thus not only the bottom edge of the wall I is cemented to the bottom lwall 4, but the adjacent as wood of dimensions equal to the interior disurface of the strand 3 is cemented thereto, forming an increased area of adherence.

The strand 2 at the upper peripheral edge gives' be entirely practical by reason of this construction. It is again noted for emphasis that` the strands 2 and 3 may both be applied to the same side face of the peripheral wall and may occur either on the outside face of the wall or on the inside face.

From the above description it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the principles of this invention are adaptedP to wide variation without departure from the scope thereof. I do not, therefore, desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: f

1. A container as described constructed of a cellulose derivative having a peripheral wall, comprising a strip of material having reinforcing strands cemented along the edges thereof, and a bottom wall cemented to the edge of the peripheral wall and the adjacent strand.

2. A container .as described constructed of a cellulose derivative having a peripheral wall, comprising a strip of material having reinforcing strands cemented along the edges thereof,l

and a bottom wall cemented to the edge of the peripheral wall, the strands at the bottom edgeA of the peripheral wall being on the outer face of the wall.

n 3. A container as described constructed of a.

thereof and the other strand to the outer face and to the bottorl'wall.

MAMMILIAN C. MEYER. 

